Rail-supporting clamp for overhead carrier systems



E. T. BENNINGTDN.

RAIL SUPPORTING CLAMP'F-OR OVERHEAD CARRIER SYSTEMS. rmcmon f lLED $591.4. 1920.

mm m Y Pat nted'Apr.18,1922.

ffy- 2a arsnr or t EARL T. BENNINGTON, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1%22.

Application filed. September 4, 1920. Serial No. 408,241.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EARL T. BENNINGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rail-Supporting Clamps'for Overhead Carrier Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a'rail supporting clamp adapted particularly for overhead monorail carrier systems.

The principal object of the invent-ion is to provide a rail supporting clamp which can be produced inexpensively, and which eiiectively supports the rail.

More specifically considered, it is one of the objects of the invention to provide a construction by which an efficient clamping and supporting action is obtained on the rail with the screw or screws which fasten together the parts of the clamp relieved entirely of the supported load created by the weight of the rail and of the carrier passing over it.

Other more specific objects areto provide a construction which enables the supporting clamp to be formed of sheet metal instead of cast metal as heretofore used, and to permit theuse of much smaller screws for fastening together the component parts of the clamp than'required with previous clamps.

The invention may be briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be described in the specification'and set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheet of drawingswherein I have shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, Figs. 1 and 2 are side views of the two parts of the clamp; Fig. 3 is an edge view of the clamp with the parts of Figs. 1 and 2 assembled; Fig. 4: is a vertical transverse sectional view of the complete clamping and supporting unit .with the clamp engaging the head of a rail to be supported; and Fig. 5 is a side view of the clamp.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 represents a monorail which is to be supported at intervals by my improved supportingclamps which in turn are suitably supported from the ceiling or other overhead structure.

My improved clamp consists of two main parts or members designated 11 and 12, these being preferably stamped out of sheet steel. These two clamping members 11 and 12 are provided at their lower ends with clamping jaws 11 and 12 which envelop the head 10* of the rail as shown in Fig. 4, the rail having lower flanges 10 on which the wheels of the carriers are adapted to travel. Before considering the details of the two clamping members 11 and 12 it might be mentioned that it is one of the features of the present invention. that the clamping members have crossed portions which enable theclamping efi'ect to be had on the head of the rail with a so-called pincers or scissors action, as will be subsequently explained.

The member 11 of the clamp is somewhat larger and longer than the part 12, though the clamping jaws 11 and 12 are of the same dimensions. This member 11 has at the topa head 11 which is formed in the bending operation by folding one part ofthe metal over onto itself, forming a recess which accommodates a nut 13 mount ed on a supporting bolt 14 which can be of any suitable length and is designed to be attached to the ceiling of a building or other appropriate supporting part by the use of suitable fittings. The head 11 of the member 11 is provided at the top and bottom with openings which accommodate the bolt 14:, and beneath the head 11 the fiat side or face of the member 11 has a slot 11 which extends from a point just beneath the head, downward to a short distance above the clamping jaw 11*. The lower part of the slot is somewhat wider than the remaining part, and at the bottom of the slot there is a shoulder 11 for a purpose to be referred to presently. The function of the slot 11 is to accommodate the shank on the supporting bolt 14, and also to accommodate a supporting lip on the companion part 12 which is designed to rest on the shoulder 11.

Below the slot 11 is a slot 11 which is wider than the'slot 11 lengthwise of the jaw portion, but vertically considered is narrow. It is through this slot 11? that the shank or body portion of the companionclamping .commodate clamping screws, and a suitable distance above these screw opei'iings, openings are provided to accommodate rivets 11 by which the free end of the member 11 is fastened to the body thereof'just beneath the head 11*. v

The clamping member 12 has a jaw 12*, already referred to, which is similar to the jaw 11 and above the jaw it has a body portion consisting of two upstanding parts 12 separated by a slot 12 which when the parts are assembled, coincides with the slot 12 to accommodate the supporting bolt.

laterally considered are of such width that they may be inserted through the lower slot 12 of the clamping member 11 in the manner illustrated in the drawings, and at the base of the slot 12 there is a laterally projecting lip 12 It will'be understood that the parts of the member 12 including the jaw 12 upstanding portions 12 and lip 12 are all formed integrally from one piece of sheet metal. Near the upper ends of the parts 12 are elongated screw openings 12".

In assembling the clamp,fthe body portion of the member 12 is inserted through the slot 11 of the member 11 so that the jaws envelop the upper head of the rail. lNhen the jaws are in clamping engagement with the rail, the upper part of the member 12 is not parallel with the face of the member 11 but extends outwardly at an angle there to, as shown-in Fig. 3. Then the parts are drawn tightly together by means of screws 15 until the. face or body portions of the two clamping members are in engagement for-their full length. When this takes place the members 11 and 12 move relatively about a fulcrum 1*, which is at the top of the slot 11", just above the jaws,.and in conse quence a very great leverage is obtained which causes the rail to be clamped very tightly. Furthermore, when the parts are thus assembled, the lip 12 extends over and .rests on the'shoulder 11. at the bottom of the slot 11 and relieves the screws entirely of any load, "this being rendered possible by reason of the elongated slots 12 through which the screws extend in passing through the member 12. The advantage of this feature is that the sole function of the screws :is to fasten the parts togetherand hold "them Vin clamping engagement, andfisi'ncejtheyare relieved-0f all of the load'su-ppor-ted by the (clamp, they are not subjected shearing stressesi, eeasequenee small screws has been the "case heretofore.

The; body portion, composed of the two parts 12*,

can beemployed, and at the same time there is no danger of the rail becoming loosened in the clamp so as to Permit it to drop or to get out of alignment at any point as Further, the fact that the screws simply clamp the parts together and support none of the load,

minimizes danger of the screws working.

loose in the tapped openings of the clamp in'g member 11.

With my improved rail supporting clamp the rail can be leveled or adjusted simply by turning the supporting bolt 14 in the nut 13 which is held from turning in the head 11 This permits an adjustment to the exact height desired and is superior to constructions generally used heretofore which involve the useof spaced projections and notches between the two parts of the clamp and which permit adjustments depending solely on the spacing of the notches.

While I have shown the preferred construction, I do not wish to be confined to the precise "details or features shown and described, ascertain changes can be made without departing from my invention as defined in the appended claims.

- Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A rail supporting clamp for an overhead rail comprising two members having rail engaging aws at the'bottom, and having body portions crossed, means for securing said body portions together, and means for relieving the securing means of the supported load.

2. A rail supporting clamp icomposed'of two members having rail engaging jaws andrhaving body portions clamped together, one or more devices passing through *said portions to hold them in clamped engagement, one of said members having a shoulder 'andthe other a part which rests on the shoulder to relieve the securing device or devices of the supported load.

clamped engagement, and one of said membershavi'ng a shou'lderand the other part engagingthe shoulder to relieve the seeu'ring device or devices of the supported load.

4:. A rail clamp composed of two members having jaws adapted to engage a rail, one

having a slot through which the other extends to form crossed portions, said members being clamped togetherbeyond the jaws and the crossed portions, one or more securing devices for holdingthem inclamped'en .gagement One of said members having a, shoulder and the othe 'i which Wests on thezshoulde'r to relieve thefsecuringjdevice ordeviees of the supportediloa'd; 2.9

5. In a rail clamp, a pair of members clamped together and provided at the bottom with clamping jaws adapted to engage the rail, and said clamp having at the top a head, and means for supporting the clamp and for raising or lowering the same comprising a nut in said head and a bolt extending through said nut lengthwise of the clamp.

6. A rail supporting clamp for an overhead rail composed of two rail clamping members having jaws adapted to engage the rail, the said members being clamped together, one of said members having at the top a head, and both having slots beneath the head, and means for supporting the clamp comprising a nut seated in the head, and a bolt passing through the head and nut and extending into said slots.

jaws and with portions clamped together to,

hold the jaws in rail engaging position, one of said members having at the top thereof a portion bent to form a head, a nut seated in the head, and a clamp supporting and adjusting bolt through the head and nut and lengthwise through the clamp.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

EARL T. BENNINGTON. 

